Basildon Choral Society

There are 2 workshops coming up for Essex based singers participating in the performance of Mahler’s Symphony No.8 (Symphony of a Thousand) at the Fairfield Hall, Croydon on Sunday 27th June.

Both workshops will be held at the Langdon Hills Methodist Church, High Road, Langdon Hills, SS16 6EX, 11.00am till 5.30pm

Saturday March 7th

Saturday April 18th.

After 28th March Wednesday evening rehearsals will be concentrating on the Mahler.

On Saturday 6th December BCS was proud to take part in a Christmas Concert organised by Basildon Heritage, lottery funded, and consisting of a drama by local playwright Dawn Knox accompanied by musical offerings from members of Basildon Choral Society, Fricklesome Amsel. a folk group from Basildon’s German twin town Heiligenhaus, and Pitsea Junior School. The play followed the fate of three young combatants from the 1st World War, men from Basildon, Heiligenhaus and Meaux. The production was rendered all the more poignant for being performed in the presence of the daughter of the young French airman depicted, Louis Vallin.

Just one comment from an enthusiastic member of the audience on 29th November. And actually it was too. Given the fact that the musical director, Stephen Hope, had had a near-death experience in a head on car crash the previous week and had to conduct from a seated position, choir and orchestra (the Sinfonia da Chiesa, leader Levine Andrade) came together in sweet harmony and treated the audience to Duruflé and Haydn at their best.

But what a shame there were only about 100 in that audience. A first class orchestra, professional musicians, and a talented local choir – it doesn’t get much better than that outside of London. If you were a member of the audience in Basildon on 29th November, and if you enjoyed what you heard, please help spread the word. These great composers deserve a wider hearing – and so do the people who sing their works !

Centuries apart in time and musical style from Haydn’s choral masterpieces, Duruflé’s “Requiem” has become a modern – well, 20th Century –  classic. With echoes of plainsong and even stronger echoes of Fauré’s work of the same name it manages to combine an almost dreamy other worldliness with moments of red-blooded passion. If you don’t know it, come and hear it opn the 29th – and be charmed !

In early November Linda and I travelled to Cornwall. We sustained ourselves through the trials and tribulations of the M25 and the A303 by listening to a batch of Haydn masses, including of course, The Nelson, Missa in Angustiis. Other composers produced great masses, of course, but there’s something about Haydn that just gets your fingers drumming and your feet tapping. It’s glorious music to drive by – but do watch your accelerator foot !

By the way, on Remembrance Sunday we attended a Solemn Requiem in Truro Cathedral, to the wonderful muisic of Fauré’s Requiem.

Don’t forget: from Wednesday 1st October we’re back at our usual rehearsal venue – Langdon Hills Methodist Church, High Rd., Langdon Hills.

And something else to remember: please don’t park on the grass !

Basildon Choral Society is rehearsing Duruflé’s Requiem and Haydn’s Nelson Mass this term for its November concert.

Rehearsals take place on Wednesdays at Langdon Hills Methodist Church, High Road, Langdon Hills, from 7.45 pm.

However on 17th and 24th September this venue is not available and we will be switching – for those 2 weeks only – to the Roman Catholic Church of St. Basil the Great in Luncies Road, Vange.

If you don’t know these pieces, take it from us that, if you know and love Fauré’s Requiem you  be equally smitten by Duruflé’s, and the Nelson Mass has all the exuberance of Haydn’s work. If you’d like to be a part of the experience, why not come along to a rehearsa, introduce yourself to our chairman, Jen Frizzell, and take it from there !

The November concert takes place on Saturday 29th at St. Martin’s Church, Basildon at 7.45 pm, and BCS will be accompanied by the Sinfonia da Chiesa.

After that we’ll be into our Christmas season culminating in our Family Carol Concert also at St.Martin’s, on Friday 19th Decmber at 7.45 pm.